Dave Wedge reports that Local 718 will get litigious if the City Council doesn't pass their contract. They'll take Mayor Menino to court, alleging that he has led a disinformation campaign regarding the contract.
“If this vote goes down, we fully intend to litigate the violations that took place,” Boston Firefighters Local 718 president Ed Kelly said. “And we will subpoena people and have them put up their right hand and perjure themselves if they have to, to protect this mayor. Because we know (the administration) went to great lengths to undermine this decision.”
Menino spokeswoman Dot Joyce fired back: “The administration has followed the letter of the law. The facts of this award speak for themselves.”
Peter Gelzinis argues that the concessions Council President Ross is asking for are reasonable, but the union leadership will not concede even a little.
For Kelly and his membership, the world is very small and very simple. The city went to arbitration. The city lost in arbitration. Now it’s time to pay up and shut up.
Firefighters don’t have to go to community meetings. Firefighters don’t have to answer phone calls from constituents looking for handicapped parking spots, or trees in front of their houses, or a detox bed for their kid.
For most city councilors, the world is bigger and more complicated. No, it’s not just the looming shadow cast by our mayor-for-life, though that is certainly a consideration. But every once in a while, it’s about trying to find a patch of middle ground where there isn’t any.
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